Shower curtain body guard

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for preventing a shower curtain from touching a bather while taking a shower. The apparatus comprises a housing member engageable with a shower wall and having a predetermined shape and formed of a first predetermined material. A retractable cord is disposed within and secured on a first end thereof to the housing member, the retractable cord having a suction cup disposed on a second end of such cord for adherence to an opposite shower wall for preventing such shower curtain from moving inward and touching such bather, such retractable cord being formed of a second predetermined material, and there is a second suction cup disposed on a first end of the housing member for attaching such housing member to such shower wall.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is closely related to and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/130,862 filed Jun. 3, 2008.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to a shower curtain, and, more particularly, the present invention relates to a shower curtain used in a bathtub that has suction cups provided along the bottom and side edges of the shower curtain.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is common in flexible devices for deflecting shower water into the bathtub, i.e. by manually sliding over a sheet of vinyl or plastic hung on rings that slide freely on a mounted rod. It is, of course, necessary that the shower curtain be pulled on both sides, as close as possible to the surrounding walls, in order to deflect as much water as possible into the bathtub. Shower curtains of this type are, however, inefficient because the side edges do not conform to the shape of the wall of the bathtub. This results in a gap between the wall and the edge of the shower curtain, thus, letting water escape through this gap. The shower curtain is also known to sway freely against a person in the bathtub during a shower. This is caused by an air draft from the pressurized water released from the shower head and can result in an unpleasant shower. This also allows more shower water to escape as the gap between the wall and shower curtain may expand when the shower curtain moves inwardly. Further, when the shower curtain repeatedly moves in and touches the bather the bather has to constantly push the shower curtain away. This can be annoying and frustrating. The shower curtain also may have mildew, soap spots or other microorganisms that can contaminate the user's newly cleaned body.

Thus, it would be advantageous if there were a simple and relatively inexpensive means that would enable shower curtains to be prevented from moving inwardly and touching the bather.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an apparatus for preventing a shower curtain from touching a bather while taking a shower. The apparatus comprises a housing member engageable with a shower wall and having a predetermined shape and formed of a first predetermined material. A retractable cord is disposed within and secured on a first end thereof to such housing member, such retractable cord being formed of a second predetermined material. A first means is disposed on a first end of the housing member for attaching such housing member to such shower wall. There is a second means for engagement with a second end of the retractable cord and with an opposite shower wall for adherence to such opposite shower wall thereby preventing such shower curtain from moving inward and touching such bather.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide an apparatus for use in a shower for preventing a shower curtain from touching a bather while showering.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that has a housing member that can be attached to a wall of a shower.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that has a retractable cord disposed in such housing member for attachment to an opposite wall.

In addition to the various objects and advantages of the invention which have been described in some specific detail above it should be noted that various other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description, particularly when such description is taken in conjunction with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the interior of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 showing one method of the cord being retractable.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 showing the apparatus attached to a shower wall and the cord attached to an opposite wall.

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 showing a different means of attachment to the shower wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identical components which have identical functions have been designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawings.

In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus, generally designated 10, for preventing a shower curtain 2 from touching a bather while taking a shower. The apparatus 10 comprises a housing member 4 engageable with a shower wall and having a predetermined shape and formed of a first predetermined material. A retractable cord 6 is disposed within and secured on a first end thereof to the housing member 4, such retractable cord 6 being formed of a second predetermined material.

There is a first means, generally designated 20, disposed on a first end of the housing member 4 for attaching such housing member 4 to such shower wall.

There is a second means, generally designated 30, for engagement with a second end of such retractable cord 6 and with an opposite wall for adherence to such opposite shower wall for preventing such shower curtain 2 from moving inward and touching such bather.

Such first means 20 includes a suction cup 20 disposed on such first end of the housing member 4 for engagement with such shower wall. Such second means 30 includes one of a suction cup 12 and a hook 16 and eye bolt 14 for engagement with such second end of such retractable cord 6 and with an opposite shower wall for securing such retractable cord 6 to such shower wall. Such eye bolt 14 is disposed on such wall and such hook 16 is engageable with the second end of the retractable cord 6 for securing the retractable cord 6 to such wall. It is presently preferred that such second means 30 is a suction cup disposed on the second end of such retractable cord 6 and engageable with such shower wall.

It is presently preferred that such predetermined shape of such housing member 4 is substantially oval. However, the shape could be selected from any of a variety of shapes. It is also preferred that such first predetermined material is plastic. It is also preferred that such second predetermined material for forming the retractable cord 6 is nylon.

It is presently preferred that the retractable cord is between about 5.75 feet and about 6.25 feet in length and it is even more preferred that such retractable cord is between about 5.85 feet and about 6.1 feet in length.

Thus, the present invention provides an apparatus that allows users to take a relaxing shower without having to repeatedly push the shower curtain away from their skin. The apparatus looks similar to a tape measure and has an enclosed cord that is retractable similar to retractable tape measure. The unit has a suction cup on one end for securing the apparatus to the wall of a shower. Inside the apparatus is a spool of cord, preferably nylon, the has preferably a suction cup on the end of the cord. The suction cup and the attached cord can be pulled from the unit and stretched across the shower and the suction cup can be adhered to the opposite shower wall. This provides a taut barrier, thereby, preventing the shower curtain from moving inward toward the bather.

When finished, the suction cup can be removed from the wall and the cord retracted into the housing. The housing can be made of plastic or another durable material. The cord in the unit is approximately 6 feet long to accommodate most showers. For use in a shower stall only a portion of the cord would have to be pulled out since the shower stall is not as wide as the shower in a bath tub.

While a presently preferred embodiment and alternate embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, it should be understood that various other adaptations and/or modifications of the invention can be made by those persons who are particularly skilled in the art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims. 

1. An apparatus for preventing a shower curtain from touching a bather while taking a shower, said apparatus comprising: (a) a housing member engageable with a shower wall and having a predetermined shape and formed of a first predetermined material; (b) a retractable cord disposed within and secured on a first end thereof to said housing member, said retractable cord being formed of a second predetermined material; (c) a first means disposed on a first end of said housing member for attaching to such shower wall; and (d) a second means for engagement with a second end of said retractable cord and with an opposite shower wall for adherence to such opposite shower wall for preventing such shower curtain from moving inward and touching such bather.
 2. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said first means includes a suction cup disposed on said first end of said housing member.
 3. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said second means includes one of a suction cup and a hook and eye bolt for securing said second end of said retractable cord to such shower wall.
 4. The apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said second means is a suction cup.
 5. The apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said eyehole is disposed on a wall and said hook is disposed on said second end of said retractable cord for securing said retractable cord to such wall.
 6. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined shape of said housing member is substantially oval.
 7. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said first predetermined material is plastic.
 8. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said second predetermined material for forming said retractable cord is nylon.
 9. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said retractable cord is between about 5.75 feet and about 6.25 feet in length.
 10. The apparatus, according to claim 9, wherein said retractable cord is between about 5.85 feet and about 6.1 feet in length. 